Acrylate rubber vulcanizable compositions

ABSTRACT

Acrylate rubbers having both halogen and carboxyl cure sites are vulcanized using an alkali metal salt of a carboxylic acid or an organo-phosphoric acid. The cure can be catalyzed by a quaternary ammonium salt or an amine. The vulcanized compositions exhibit low press-cured and post-cured compression set.

United States Patent [191 Morris et a].

[ 1 Oct. 14, 1975 ACRYLATE RUBBER VULCANIZABLE COMPOSITIONS Inventors: Roger E. Morris, Cuyahoga Falls;

Harold Tucker, Brecksville, both of Ohio Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich Company,

Akron, Ohio Filed: Mar. 21, 1974 Appl. No.: 453,278

Related US. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 272,849, July 18, 1972, abandoned.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,296,175 l/l967 Fantl et a1 260/29.6 3,488,331 l/l970 Jorgenson 260/80.76 3,624,058 1 H1971 Jorgenson 260/86.l 3,732,190 5/1973 Balle et al. 260/78.5 R

Primary ExaminerStanf0rd M. Levin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Alan A. Csontos [57] ABSTRACT Acrylate rubbers having both halogen and carboxyl cure sites are vulcanized using an alkali metal salt of a carboxylic acid or an organo-phosphoric acid. The cure can be catalyzed by a quaternary ammonium salt or an amine. The vulcanized compositions exhibit low press-cured and post-cured compression set.

15 Claims, N0 Drawings ACRYLATE RUBBER VULCANIZABLE COMPOSITIONS This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 272,849, filed July 18, 1972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Acrylate rubbers exhibit very favorable qualities of weatherability, high temperature serviceability, and good oil resistance. These qualities make the rubbers useful for under-the-hood automotive applications and out-of-door applications. Their use is limited by the tendency of the vulcanizates to post-cure during use. This results in property change and in some cases in failure of the article. To overcome these problems, the acrylate rubber vulcanizates are purposely postcured, often as long as 24 hours or more, to obtain a more complete cure. This is shown by a reduced compression set. It would be of great advantage to the industry to reduce the time required for, or eliminate the need of, postcure for the acrylate rubber vulcanizates.

Much effort has gone into the development of both faster and more efficient cures of acrylate rubbers. An article in Rubber Chemistry and Technology, Vol. 44, No. 2 (1971), traces the more recent efforts. Various cure sites and cure systems have been evaluated; see US. Pat. Nos. 3,288,763; 3,324,088; 3,337,492; 3,435,010; 3,450,681; and 3,458,461. However, the need for a long post-cure has not been eliminated, and improved vulcanizates are desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Compositions comprising an acrylate rubber having both halogen and carboxyl cure sites and an alkali metal salt of a carboxylic acid or an organo-phosphoric acid are readily cured to vulcanizates having improved press-cure and post-cure compression set. The cure can be catalyzed by the use of a quaternary ammonium salt or an amine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The acrylate rubbers are interpolymers comprising acrylate monomer(s), a reactive halogen-containing monomer, and a carbonyl-containing monomer.

The acrylate rubber contains from about 40% to about 99.8% by weight, based upon the weight of the polymer, of an acrylatc of the formula wherein R is an alkyl radical containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an alkoxyalkyl or alkylthioalkyl radical containing a total of 2 to about l2 carbon atoms, or a cyanoalkyl radical containing 2 to about 12 carbon atoms. The alkyl structure can contain primary, secondary, or tertiary carbon configurations. Examples of such acrylates are methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, nbutyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, n-pentyl acrylate, isoamyl acrylate, n-hexyl acrylate, 2methyl-pentyl any late, n-octyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, n-decyl acrylate, n-dodecyl acrylate, n-octadecyl acrylate, and the like; methoxymethyl acrylate; methoxyethyl acrylate, ethoxyethyl acrylate, butoxyethyl acrylate, ethoxypropyl acrylate, methylthioethylacrylate, hexylthioethylacrylate, and the like; and ozand B-cyanoethyl acrylate, 01,8 and y-cyanopropyl acrylate, cyanobutyl acryacrylates are ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, n-butyl acchloropropionate,

rylate, hexyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, and the like, and methoxyethyl acrylate, ethoxyethyl acrylate and the like. Both an alkyl acrylate and an alkoxyalkyl acrylate areused.

The rubber contains from about 0.1%- to about 30% by weight of an active halogen-containing monomer. The halogen groups can be chlorine, bromine, or iodine. Examples of such monomers are vinyl chloroacetate, vinyl bromoacetate, allyl chloroacetate, vinyl vinyl chlorobutyrate, vinyl bromobutyrate, 2-chloroethyl acrylate, 3-chloropropyl acrylate, 4-chlorobutyl acrylate, 2-chloroethyl methacrylate, 2-bromoethyl acrylate, 2-iodoethyl acrylate, 2- chloroethyl vinyl ether, chloromethyl vinyl ketone, 4- chloro-2-butenyl acrylate, vinyl benzyl chloride, 5- chloromethyl-2-norbornene, S-(a-chloroacetoxymethyl)-2-norbornene, 5-(a,B-dichloropropionylmethyl)- 2-norbornene, and the like. The preferred monomers are vinyl chloroacetate, allyl chloroacetate, 2-chloroethyl acrylate, 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether, vinyl benzyl chloride, 5-chloromethyl-2-norbornene, and 5- chloroacetoxymethyl-2-norbornene.

More preferredly, the rubber contains from about 0.2% to about 15% by weight of the active halogencontaining monomer. At this level, the halogen content is from about 0.1% to about. 5% by weight of the rub ber. Due to availability and cost, the chlorinecontaining monomers are preferred.

The rubbers also contain from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of a carboxyl-containing monomer. The monomer can be monocarboxylic or poly-carboxylic, containing from 3 to about 8 carbon atoms. Examples of such monomers are acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, ethacrylic acid, B,B-dimethyl acrylic acid, crotonic acid, 2-pentenoic acid, 2-hexenoic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, citraconic acid. mesaconic acid, itaconic acid, 3-butene-1,2,3-tricarbox ylic acid, and the like.

More preferably, the rubber contains from about 0.2% to about 10% by weight of the carboxyl-containing monomer. At this level, the carboxyl content is from about 0.1% to about 7% by weight of the. rubber. The more preferred monomers are the monocarboxylic acid monomers such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, and the like.

The rubber can contain up to about 35% and preferably up to about 10% by weight of other copolymerizable vinylidene monomers having a terminal vinylidene (CH =C group. Examples of such are phenyl acrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate, methacrylates such as methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate and the like; vinyl and allyl esters such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, allyl acetate, and the like; vinyl ketones such as methyl vinyl ketone; vinyl and allyl ethers such as vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, allyl methyl ether, and the like; vinyl aromatics such as styrene, a-methyl styrene, vinyl toluene, and the like; vinyl nitriles such as acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile; vinyl amides such as acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-methyl methacrylamide, and the like; and dienes and divinyls such as butadiene, iso- 3 prene, divinyl benzene, divinyl ether, diethylene glycol diacrylate, and the like. The more preferred copolymerizable monomers are vinyl acetate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, styrene, acrylonitrile, acrylamide, divinyl benzene and diethylene glycol diacrylate.

The acrylate rubbers can be prepared using emulsion (latex), suspension, solution, and bulk techniques known to those skilled in the art. Because it is desirable to polymerize the monomers to 90 percent conversion or over, emulsion and suspension techniques are usually employed. The polymerization can be performed as a batch reaction, or one or more ingredients can be proportioned during the run. Temperature of polymerization ranges from about lC. to about 100C., whereas a more preferred range is from about 5C. to about 80C.

The polymerization can be initiated by free-radical generating agents. Examples of such agents are organic peroxides and hydroperoxides such as benzoyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide, paramethane hydroperoxide, and the like, used alone or with redox systems; diazo compounds such as azobisisobutyronitrile and the like; persulfate salts such as sodium potassium, and ammonium persulate, used alone or with redox systems; and the use of ultraviolet light with photo-sensitive agents such as benzophenone, triphenylphosphine, organic diazos, and the like.

Typical emulsion polymerization ingredients would include a persulfate salt or organic peroxide and usually a redox system, water adjusted to a desired pH with acids or bases and usually buffered with inorganic salts, and either anionic, cationic, or nonionic surface active agents well known to the art.

The polymerization normally is continued until about 90% conversion of monomers is obtained. The resulting latex can be coagulated to isolate the polymer. Typical coagulation procedures are salt/acid coagulations, use of polyvalent metal salts such as MgSO use of alcohols such methanol and isopropyl alcohol, and freeze agglomeration techniques. The rubber is then usually washed with water and dried.

The acrylate rubbers are solid elastomers having a dilute solution viscosity (DSV) of over 0.5 as measured on 0.2 gram of rubber in 100 ml. benzene at 25C. Raw polymer Mooney values (ML-4, at 212F.) are from about to about 100.

The rubbers are admixed with cure ingredients and compounding ingredients using two-roll mills, internal mixers such as Banburys and extruders, and like equipment.

The acrylate rubbers can be vulcanized using known curatives. Examples of these curatives are the soap-sulfur systems such as potassium and sodium stearate, sodium acetate, and potassium tartate with sulfur or sulfur donors such as dipentamethylene thiuram hexasulfide; polyamines such as hexamethylene diamine, triethylene diamine, triethylene tetraamine, and the like; and ammonium-carboxylic acid salts such as ammonium benzoate, ammonium adipate, and ammonium stearate, used alone or with alkyl halides such dodecyl bromide. A disadvantage of these curatives is their failure to develop low compression set after press-cure.

It has been found that the acrylate rubbers of this invention are vulcanized efficiently in the absence of sulfur using an alkali metal salt of a carboxylic acid or an organophosphoric acid. The press-cured and postcured essentially sulfur-free vulcanizates exhibit com- 4 paratively lower compression set than known vulcanizate compositions. This is achieved at no loss of desirable acrylate properties.

The carboxylic acid metal salt is used at a level from about 0.5 part to about 7 parts by weight per parts of rubber, and more preferredly from about 1 part to about 5 parts by weight. The metal is an alkali metal. The carboxylic acid is preferredly a monocarboxylic acid containing from 2 to about 24 carbon atoms. The acids may be unsaturated, and can contain hydroxy, ether, ester, or ketonic groups. Examples of such acids are acetic acid, propionic acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid,, octanoic acid, 2-ethyl hexanoic acid, decanoic acid, lauric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, cyclohexane carboxylic acid, crotonic acid, cinnamic acid, hydroxy acetic acid, acetoacetic acid, butoxy acetic acid, levulinic acid, mono-b 3-octyl maleate, benzoic acid, phthalic acid, toluic acid, salicylic acid, naphthenic acid, and the like. More preferredly, the carboxylic acid contains from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms. Examples of the more preferred monocarboxylic acids are octanoic acid, 2-ethyl hexanoic acid, decanoic acid, lauric acid, stearic acid, cinnamic acid, benzoic acid, toluic acid, naphthenic acid, and the like.

Preferredly the metal salt is a salt of an alkyl or of an aromatic monocarboxylic acid. Potassium and sodium are the preferred alkali metals. Examples of the more preferred carboxylic acid metal salts are sodium octanoate, potassium 2-ethyl hexanoate, sodium tdodecanoate, sodium and potassium tetradodecanoate, sodium and potassium stearate, sodium and potassium benzoate.

The alkali metal salts of organo-phosphoric acids also may be used. These compounds are characterized by the structure wherein M is an alkali metal, y l or 2, z l or 2, and y z 3, and R is an alkyl radical containing 1 to 24 carbon atoms, an aryl radical containing 6 to 24 carbon atoms, or a polyether as the condensation product of an organic acid or alcohol with ethylene oxide. Examples of these compounds are sodium salt of monophenyl phosphate, sodium salt of mono-p-tert-butyl phenyl phosphate, potassium salt of di-o-xenyl phosphate, sodium salt of mono-lauryl phosphate, sodium salt of dioctyl phosphate, potassium salt of distearyl phosphate, potassium salt of monododecyl-mono-benzyl phosphate, and sodium and potassium salts of monoand di-alkylphenoxy poly( ethyleneoxy) ethyl phosphates. More preferredly M is sodium or potassium and R, when an alkyl radical, contains about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and when an aryl radical, contains 6 to about 14 carbon atoms.

The acrylate rubbers containing both halogen and carboxyl cure sites are readily cured without sulfur to vulcanizates having improved press-cured and postcured compression set using an acid metal salt as the curative. Even further improvement is obtained and the rate of cure accelerated by using a nitrogen-containing catalyst. Such catalyst are quaternary ammonium salts and amines.

The quaternary ammonium salts are used at a level from about 0.01 part to about 5 parts by weight per 100 parts of rubber, and more preferredly from about 0.05 part toabout 2 parts by weight. The compounds are ammonium salts in which all four hydrogen atoms have been replaced with organic radicals. The quaternary ammonium salts include the structure wherein R,,, R,,, R,. and R are hydrocarbon radicals containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms such as alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, and aralkyl radicals, or wherein two or three of the R,,, R,,, R, and R radicals form with the nitrogen atom a heterocyclic structure containing 3 to 8 atoms selected from the group consisting of C, N, O and S where at least two atoms are C; and X is an anion from an inorganic or organic acid wherein the acidic hydrogen is attached to halogen or oxygen. More preferredly X is an anion such as Cl, Br ,l HSOf, H POf, RCOO, R050 R50, and ROPO H, and R is an alkyl or alkaryl. radical containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms.

Examples of the quaternary ammonium salts are tetramethyl ammonium chloride, tetramethyl ammonium bromide, trimethyl ethyl ammonium iodide, trimethyl cetyl ammonium bromide, trimethyl benzyl ammonium benzoate, trimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, trimethyl benzyl ammonium paratoluene sulfonate, dimethyl ethyl cetylammoniurn chloride, dimethyl octyl benzyl ammonium chloride, dimethyl oleyl benzyl ammonium chloride, dimethyl octadecyl benzyl ammonium chloride, dimethyl phenyl benzyl ammonium bromide, dimethyl dibenzyl ammonium bromide, methyl ethyl propyl isobutyl ammonium chloride, methyl cetyl dibenzyl ammonium bromide, cetyl pyridinium chloride, dodecyl pyridinium bromide, lauryl pyridinium sulfate, and the like.

The amine catalysts are strong amines, having a dissociation (-log K) constant of below (See Langes Handbook of Chemistry, 10th Edition, McGraw-Hill Book Co., NY. (1967) Page 1213). They are used at the same concentrations as the quaternary ammonium salts are used. The amines can be primary, secondary, or tertiary amines, but more preferredly are secondary or tertiary amines. or guanidines.

The secondary amines can be, aliphatic or aromatic amines, cyclic methyleneamines, or heterocyclic amines. Examples of such amines are diisopropyl amine, dioctyl amine, dilauryl amine, dibenzyl amine, methylbenzyl amine, methyethanol amine, diethanol amine, imidazole pyrrolidine, piperidine, piperazine, morpholine, and the like. The more preferred secondary amines are the cyclic methyleneamines and the heterocyclic amines, containing 3 to 8 atoms in the ring.

The tertiary amines can be aliphatic or aromatic amines, cyclic methyleneamines, or amines. Examples of such amines are triethyl amine, triisopropyl amine, dimethyllbutyl amine, dimethylbenzyl amine. methyl dibenzyl amine, triethanol amine, N- methyl piperidine, N-methyl morpholine, triethylenediamine, quinuclidine, pyridine, 3-ethyl-4-methyl pyridine, 4,4-dipyridyl propane, and the like. The more preferred tertiary amines are the cyclic methyleneamines and the heterocyclic amines containing'3 to 8 atoms in the ring.

heterocyclic.

Examples of the guanidines are guanidine, tetramethyl guanidine, dibutyl quanidine, diphenyl qua'nidine, diorthotolyl guanidine, dicyandiamide, and the 6 like; and reaction products of guanidines with acyl chlorides, examples being l,l,3,3-tetramethyl-2-acetyl guanidine and 1,l,3,3-tetramethyl-2-benzoyl guanidine.

The amines can be added in their natural form, or as amine/acid salts, or amine/isocyanate reaction products. An exception to this, of course, is the tertiary amines which can be added only in their natural state or as an amine/acid salt.

The amine/acid salts and amine/isocyanates reaction products are added at levels which yield the desired level of amine catalyst. For example, if the amine forms forty percent by weight of the compound, and 1 part by weight of amine is desired, the compounder would add 2.5 parts of the compound to the acrylate rubber.

The amine/acid salts are prepared by the reaction of the amine with a halogen acid, a phosphoric acid or partial phosphoric acid ester, partial ester of a sulfuric acid, or a carboxylic acid. Examples of such acids are hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, phosphoric acid, octadecyl dihydrogen phosphate, dioctyl hydrogen phosphate, lauryl hydrogen sulfate, and carboxylic acids such as aliphatic acids, especially the fatty acids, and aromatic acids. The carboxylic acids can be monoor poly-carboxylic acids containing 2 to about 24 carbon atoms. Examples of these acids are acetic acid, propionic acid, butanoic acid, hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, Z-ethyl hexanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, maleic acid, crotonic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, azelaic acid, hydroxy acetic acid, glycolic acid, malic acid, acetoacetic acid, benzoic acid, phthalic acid, salicylic acid, and the like.

More preferredly, the acids are halogen acids, or mono-carboxylic acids or aromatic acids containing 6 to about 20 carbon atoms. Examples of such amine/acid salts are ethyl amine hydrochloride, dioctyl amine hydrobromide, dilauryl amine stearate, t-butyl amine benzoate, diethanol amine benzoate, piperidine hydrochloride, piperazine octonate, N-methyl pyridine-2- ethyl hexanoate, triethylamine hydrochloride, dimethyl benzyl amine phthalate, N-methyl piperidine benzoate, triethylenediamine dibenzoate, pyridine hydrochloride, 4,4-dipyridyl propane dibenzoate, triphenyl guanidine hydrochloride, dicyandiamide caproate, and the like.

The amines can also be added as amine/isocyanate reaction products. The isocyanates can be mono-, di-, or polyisocyanates. Examples of the isocyanates are hexyl isocyanate, lauryl" isocyanate, octadecyl isocyanate, phenyl isocyanate, 2,4- and 2,6- toluene diisocyanate, p-phenylene diisocyanate, bitolyl diisocyanate, diphenylmethane-p,p' diisocyanate, diphenylmethane triisocyanate, and the like. The more preferred isocyanates are the aromatic isocyanates.

Examples of amine/isocyanate combinations are dioctyl-amine-octadecyl isocyanate, dibenzylaminehexyl isocyanate, morpholine-phenyl isocyanate, diphenylguanidine-tolyl isocyanate, dicyandiamideoctadecyl isocyanate, diethylamine-toluene diisocyanate, dibutylamine-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, piperidine-bitolyl diisocyanate, pyrrolidinediphenylmethane-p,p-diisocyanate, and the like.

The acrylate rubbers can be admixed with many other rubber compounding ingredients. Examples of such ingredients are fillers such as the carbon blacks, calcium sulfates, aluminum silicates, phenol-formaldeplasticizers and extenders such as dialkyl and diaryl orfrom about 250F. to about'450F., whereas a more preferred range is from about 275F. to about 400F. Cure time varies inversely as temperature, and-ranges from about 1 minute to about 60 minutes or more. The polymers can be post-cured for about 3 to 8 hours at a temperature from about 300F. to about 375F.

The novel compositions develop rapid and stable cures. Full property development is achieved faster than withpreviously known compositions. This is evidenced by the lower compression set values obtained after press-cure and post-cure. The vulcanizates were evaluated as to their plied disk compression set (ASTM D395V), tensile and elongation (ASTM D412), hardness ASTM D676-durometer A), and Gehman Freeze (D1053). Cure times were determined following ASTM D1646, using a Mooney Viscometer at 250F. with a large rotor, or using a Monsanto Rheometer or a B.F.G. Cone Curometer as described in US. Pat. No. 3.494.172.

The vulcanizates are useful in many applications where weatherability, high temperature serviceability, and oil resistance are required. Such applications are under-the-hood automotive parts such as gaskets, seals, packings. belting and hosing. and out-of-doors'applications such as Weatherstripping, sealants,and hosing.

The following examples serve to more fully illustrate the invention.

EXAMPLE I A polymer containing ethyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, methacrylic acid, and vinyl benzyl chloride was prepared using standard emulsion polymerization techniques. The recipe used is as follows:

Water, grams 2400 alkylphenox; pul \(eth \let'|cnx)')clh)l phosphate 'fi'mlymeriled alkyl naphthalene sult'onic acid "1.4 milliliters eatalyfl in 10 milliliters acetone Sodium formaldehyde sullbxalate "'5' 2 by weight in water "sodium ferric ethylenediamine tetraaeetic acid 5' by weight in water "0.2% by weight in water The Gafac PE 510 was mixed in 200 grams of water and adjusted to a pH of 6.5. The ethyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate,, methacrylic acid, and'vinyl benzyl chloride' were mixed together. 2200 grams of water was charged to a vessel which had been previously evacuated and purged with nitrogen gas. One-half of the Gafac solution was added, followed by 190 grams of the monomer solution, the Daxad l7 and the sodiumsulfate. The reactor mix was cooled to 17C. and the hydroperoxide, SFS, Sequestrene NaFe, and Na S= ,O added to initiate the reaction. Polymerization temperature was maintained at about 20C to 25C. The remaining monomer solution was proportioned into the reactor over a 7- hour period. At 3.5 hours into the run, the'remaining one-half of the Gafac solution was added. Total polymerization time was 10 hours. Percent conversion of monomers topolymer' was above The emulsion was'coagulated using a 25% by weight solution of NaCl in water, and methanol. The isolated polymer was washed 'with water' and dried. The polymer was a rubber having about a 30 raw polymer Mooney value (Ml-4, 212F.).

The Example demonstrates that the polymers employed in this invention are readily prepared using standard polymerization techniques. The polymers are just as easily prepared using suspension, solution,'or bulk polymerization procedures and techniques.

EXAMPLE ll A g B l c Ethyl aerylate 97.1. I 96.9 97.4 Vinyl benzyl chloride 2.4 2.4 2.6 Methacrylic acid 0.5 0.7

The recipes used were as follows (in parts by weight): 2 v 3 Rubber A l Rubber B I i 100 "100 Ruhber C 100 N550 black 65 65 65 65 Acrawax C 2 2 2 l 2 Potassium stearate 3.0 3.0 2.8 3.0

Sulfur I 0.3 Fixanol 0.83" i 0.2 Arquad S-50 0.3 Press cure conditions Time. minutes 20 20 10 8 Temperature, F. 350 350 350 338 Tensile, psig 2380 1790 2320 I900 Elongation, percent I80 I65 I95 430 Compression set. percent 70 hours at 300F. 47 5| 61 r )4 Tempered data hours at 350F. 8 5 8 8 Tensile. psig 2280' 1520 2150 1940 Elongation, percent 135 2.10 Compression set, percent 70 hours at 300F. 14 25 27 56 dodecyl pyridiniuni bromide "trimethyl alkyl ammonium chloride 50 percent by weight on precipitated silica synthetic was i The halogenand carboxyl-containing rubbers, samples l, 2 and 3, readily cured using a soap/quaternary ammonium salt system. Sample 4, a halogen-containing .rubber, vulcanized using a soap/sulfur system, cured slower as evidenced by the much higher compression set of the sample. The novel compositions had com-' pression sets after the press-cure comparable to sample 4 after. 8 hoursof tempering. This example demonstrates that the novel vulcanizable compositions obtain 9 a given state of cure much faster than previously known compositions.

EXAMPLE Ill A B C D Ethyl acrylate 97.8 97.8 97.3 98.3 Methacrylic acid 1.0 0.6 09 'chloroacctoxymethyLZ-norbornene 1.2 1.6 1.7 1.7 The cure recipes were as follows:

Rubber A 100 Rubber B 100 Rubber C g 100 Rubber D 100 N550 Black 65 65 65 65 Acrawax C 2 Potassium stearate 3 0 3 0 3.0 3.0 Sulfur 0.3 Arquad S-50 0.2 Fixanol 1.0 0.4 Press-cure conditions Time. minutes 20 20 10 Temperature. F. 350 350 350 350 Tensile. psig 1800 1550 1820 1320 Elongation. 71 225 165 215 220 Compression set, 70 hours at 300F. 63 42 60 94 Tempered conditions time. hours 3 8 8 8 temperature. F. 350 350 350 350 Tensile. psig 2050 1650 1920 1450 Elongation. 150 125 130 200 Compression set, "/1

70 hours at 300F. 50 21 28 46 The data shows that the unique vulcanizable compositions, samples 1, 2 and 3, press-cured more quickly and to a more fully developed cure than the soap/sulfur cured, halogen-containing rubber, sample 4. Sample 2 had press-cure properties equal to or better than sample 4 even after sample 4 was tempered for 8 hours at 350F. The fast cure of the novel compositions enables a manufacturer to increase his output by expending much less time during cure and tempering to obtain a desired state of cure.

EXAMPLE IV A rubber comprising 96.7 percent of ethyl acrylate, 2.7 percent of 2-chloroethyl acrylate, and 0.6 percent of methacrylic acid was cured using a soap/quaternary ammonium salt system. The recipe used and the data 70 hours at 300F.

10 This example shows the use of 2-chloroethyl acrylate as the halogencontaining monomer. Although the reactivity of the halogen group varies with the monomer, the soap/quaternary ammonium salt system provides enhanced cure development in all cases.

EXAMPLE V An acrylate rubber containing 48.7 percent by weight of n-butyl acrylate, 48.7 percent by weight of methoxyethyl acrylate, 0.6 percent by weight of methacrylic acid, and 2.0. percent. by weight of 5- chloroacetoxymethyl-2-norbornene was vulcanized using only a fatty acid metal salt as the curative. The recipe and data were as follows:

The cure data shows that the rubbers were substantially cured without the need of sulfur. A short postcure would readily lower the compression sets of the rubbers. The use of a quaternary ammonium salt or'an amine catalyst increases the rate of cure.

EXAMPLE V1 A rubber containing 96.7 percent by weight of ethyl acrylate, 2.7 percent by weight of 2-chloroethyl acrylate, and 0.6 percent by weight of methacrylic acid was vulcanized using the recipe: 100 parts rubber, 65 parts N550 black, 2 parts Acrawax C, 2.8 parts potassium stearate, and 1.5 parts 4,4-clipyridyl propane. The composition was press-cured 20 minutes at 302F. Tensile was 1880 psig, elongation was 190 percent, hardness was 77, and compression set hours at 300F.) was percent. After a post-cure of 5 hours at 350F., the compression set was 36 percent. The cured vulcanizate had an oil swell of 13 percent after 3 days at 300F. in ASTM No. 3 oil, and had a Genman Freeze point of 20C. The example demonstrates the use of a tertiary amine as a cure catalyst.

EXAMPLE VI] A rubber containing 97.8 percent by weight of ethyl acrylate, 1.6 percent by weight of 5-chloroacetoxymethyl-Z-norbornene, and 0.6 percent by weight of methacrylic acid was cured using potassium stearate catalyzed by guanidines. The recipes and data were as follows:

Rubber 100 100 Acrawax C 2 2 2 N550 black 65 65 65 Potassium stearate 2.8 2.8 2.8

Guanidine/isocyanate 0.7 Guanidine/acylchloride 1 .0 Dicyandiamide 1.0 Press-cure, 20at 350F. Tensile, psig 1780 1800 1700 Elongation, percent 270 200 Hardness, Duro A 68 68 70 -continued The example demonstrates the utility of the amine/acld salt catalyst. The amine/acid salt must first break Compression set. percent down t free the 211111118 for CiltillySlS. Hence. these cata- 70 hours at 300F. 35 42 53 v Pnswum 8 mm at 50F. g lysts are slower acting than the amines used naturally. Compression set. percent The rubber in sample l is predominantly ethyl acrylate. 30 33 Therefore, it has higher tensile and lower compression diflelramclhfl gimnidinetoluc|n: diisocyanate reaction product Set than does the rubber in samples 2 to 6 iS pre- '-'h:u'ameih \l guanidineMien/n l uhloridtreaction product d i tly b tyl yl t A pu i b t samples 3 and 6 demonstrates that potassium stearate The example demonstrates the use of guanidine cataand Sodium Steilrdte are about equivalent in their abillysts. Sample 1 employed a guanidine-isocyanate reacy to Cure the acrylate b tion product, and sample 2 a guanidine-acyl chloride reaction product.

EXAMPLE VII] EXAMPLE 1X Acrylme rubbers having both halogen and carboxy] Acrylate rubbers containing methacrylic acid and cure sites were vulcanized using potassium stearate or i l b hl id a the ure ite monomers were sodium stearate as the urativ and amifle/cill'boxyilc vulcanized using potassium stearate as the curative and acid Salts as Catalyst The rubber Composltlons were as a triethylenediamine/benzoic acid salt as the catalyst. follows Weight P The rubber compositions in weight percent were:

Ethyl acrylate 98.0 29.4 n-Butyl acrylate 68.8 Acrylic acid 0.6 Methacrylic acid 0.4 S-chloroacetoxymethyl-2- norhornenc 1.4 1.4

Rubber A 100 Ruhhcr B 100 100 100 100 100 Acrawax C 2 2 2 2 2 2 N550 black 65 55 55 55 55 N881 black 20 20 20 20 20 Potassium stearate 3.0 2.8 2,8 2.8 Sodium stearate 2.8 2.8 t-butylamine/bcnzoic acid 0.7 Triethylenc diamine/ dibcnzoic acid 0.5 0.5

N-methyl piperidine/ bcnzoic acid 0.95 0.95 4,4-dipyridyl propane/ dibenzoic acid 0.86 Press-cure minutes 10 60 60 60 60 temperature, F. 350 307 307 307 307 307 Tensile. psig 1650 1000 920 1000 980 840 Elongation, percent 310 335 450 340 410 490 Hardness, Duro A 63 56 53 55 50 49 Compression sct, percent hours at 300F. 60 83 87 89 91 Post-cure hours 8 20 20 20 20 20 temperature. F. 350 307 307 307 307 307 Compression sct, percent 70 hours at 300F. 38 61 63 62 64 69 n-butyl acrylate 49.2 49.2 Mcthoxyethyl acrylate 49.2 49.2 Moth-acrylic acid 0.2 0.4 Vinyl henzyl chloride 1.4 1.2 The recipes used and data obtained were as follows;

Rubber A 100 100 Rubber B 100 100 N326 black 75 75 75 75 75 Acrawax C l l l l 1 Potassium stearate 0.9 1.6 2.0 1.5 2.0 Tricthylcnediamine/hcnzoic acid 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Press-cure. 30' at 307F. Tensile, psig 1550 2000 2000 i630 1700 Elongation, percent 290 230 250 260 230 Hardness. Duro A 55 60 60 59 6?, Compression set, percent 70 hours at 300F. 86 72 79 79 76 Post-cure, 20 hours at 307F. Compression set. percent 70 hours at 300F. 54 36 37 49 43 The samples developed excellent properties after the press-cure. The high press-cure compression sets are characteristic of the n-butyl acrylate and methoxyethyl acrylate rubber. The post-cure readily lowered the compression set.

The Examples demonstrate the ability of the acrylate rubbers of this invention to vulcanize without the need of sulfur. The rubbers can also be vulcanized using known cure systems. However, they are quickly and efficiently cured using the acid metal salt and quaternary ammonium salt or amine catalysts. Such compositions have improved vulcanizate compression set values. They obtain a given state of .cure faster than previously known compositions, thereby resulting in increased productivity.

EXAMPLE X A rubber masterbatch was prepared using 100 parts by weight of an acrylate rubber, 55 parts by weight of N550 carbon black, parts by weight of N881 carbon black, and 1 part by weight of Acrawax C. The acrylate rubber used contained 77.8 percent by weight of nbutyl acrylate, 20.8 percent by weight of ethyl acrylate, 1.1 percent by weight of vinyl benzyl chloride, and 0.3 percent by weight of methacrylic acid. Portions of the masterbatch were then mixed with curatives and heated in a B.F.G. Cone Curometer at 350F. The curatives were used in parts by weight based upon 100 parts by weight of the acrylate rubber. The following table gives the cure recipes in parts by weight and the torque data of the samples:

,alkylphcnuxy poh-(cthylencoxy)cthyl phosphate "dotlccyl pyridium hmmidc 50% by weight on precipitated silica The rubber masterbatch, without a curative present, shows no torque increase upon heating. After 26 minutes, all of the samples were cured elastomers. The Example demonstrates the use of alkali metal salts of orwherein R is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl radical containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an alkoxyalkyl, an alkylthioalkyl, and a cyanoalkyl radical each containing 2 to about 12 carbon atoms, (b) from about 0.1 percent to about 30 percent by weight of a halogencontaining monomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl .chloroacetate, vinyl bromoacetate, allyl chloroacetate, vinyl chloropropionate, vinyl chlorobutyrate, vinyl bromobutyrate, 2-chloroethyl acrylate, 3-chloropropyl acrylate, 4-chlorobutyl acrylate, 2-chloroethyl methacrylate, 2-bromoethyl acrylate, 2- iodoethyl acrylate, 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether, chloromethyl vinyl ketone, 4-chloro-2-butenyl acrylate, vinyl benzyl chloride, 5-chloromethyl-2-norbornene, 5-(achloroacetoxymethyl )-2-norbornene, and 5-( afidichloropropionylmethyl)-2-norbornene, (c) from about 0.1 percent to about 20 percent by weight of a carboxyl-containing monomer, and ((1) up to 35 percent by weight of a copolymerizable monomer containing a terminal vinylidene group selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, styrene, acrylonitrile, acrylamide, divinyl benzene, and diethylene glycol diacrylate, and (2) a cure system consisting essentially of from about 0.5 part to about 7 parts by weight based upon parts by weight of the rubber of an alkali metal salt of an acid selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids containing 2 to about 24 carbon atoms and organophosphoric acids wherein the organophosphoric acid alkali metal salts have the structure wherein M is an alkali metal, y l or 2, z l or 2, and .y z 3, and R is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl radical cointaining 1 to 24 carbon atoms, an aryl radical containing 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and an alkylphenoxy poly(ethyleneoxy)ethyl radical.

2. A composition of claim 1 wherein M is potassium or sodium.

3. A composition of claim 1 wherein (l is a rubber consisting essentially of (a) from about 65 percent to about 99.6 percent by weight of an acrylate or mixtures of'acrylates wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals containing 1 to about 10 carbon atoms and alkoxyalkyl radicals containing 2 to about 8 carbon atoms, (b) from about 0.2 percent to about 15 percent by weight of 'the halogen-containing monomer, (c) from about 0.2 percent to about 10 percent by weight of a carboxyl-containing monomer, and (d) up to about 10 percent by weight of a copolymerizable monomer containing a terminal vinylidene group recited in claim 1. I

4. A composition of claim 3 wherein (a) is selected from the group consisting of ethyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, methoxy ethyl acrylate and ethoxy ethyl acrylate, (b) is selected from the group consisting of vinyl chloroacetate, allyl chloroacetate, 2-chloroethyl acrylate, 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether, vinyl benzyl chloride, 5-chloromethyl-2-norbornene, and 5-chloroacetoxymethyl-2-norbomene, (c) is selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and itaconic acid, and (cl) is selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, styrene, acrylonitrile, acrylamide, and diethylene glycol diacrylate.

5. A composition of claim 4 wherein (a) is ethyl acrylate and (c) is methacrylic acid.

6. A composition of claim 3 wherein (2) is used ata level from about 1 part to about 5 parts by weight based upon 100 parts by weight of the acrylate rubber, and where the acid is an alkyl or aromatic monocarboxylic acid containing from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms.

7. A composition of claim 6 wherein the said monocarboxylic acid is an alkyl monocarboxylic acid.

8. A composition of claim 7 wherein the alkali metal is selected from the group consisting of potassium and sodium.

9. A composition comprising l a rubber consisting essentially of (a) from about 40 percent to about 99.8 percent by weight of an acrylate or mixtures of acrylates having the formula wherein R is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl radical containing 1 to [8 carbon atoms, an alkoxyalkyl radical, alkylthioalkyl radical, and a cyanoalkyl radical each containing 2 to about 12 carbon atoms, (b) from about 0.1 percent to about 30 percent by weight of a halogen-containing monomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl chloroacetate, vinyl bromoacetate, allyl chloroacetate, vinyl chloropropionate, vinyl chlorobutyrate, vinyl bromobutyrate, 2-chloroethyl acrylate, 3-chloropropyl acrylate, 4-chlorobutyl acrylate, 2-chloroethyl methacrylate, 2-bromoethyl acrylate, Z-iodoethyl acrylate, 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether, chloromethyl vinyl ketone, 4-chloro-2-butenyl acrylate, vinyl benzyl chloride, -chloromethyl-2-norbornene, 5-(a-chloroacetoxymethyl) 2-norbornene, and 5-( afi-dichloropropionylmethyl )-2-norbornene, (c) from about 0.1 percent to about percent by weight of a carboxyl-containing monomer, and (d) up to 35 percent by weight of a copolymerizable monomer containing a terminal vinylidene group selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, styrene, acrylonitrile, acrylamide, divinyl benzene, and diethylene glycol diacrylate, and (2) a cure system consisting essentially of (i') from about 0.5 part to 7 parts by weight based upon 100 parts by weight of the rubber of an alkali metal salt of an acid selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids containing 2 to about 24 carbon atoms and organophosphoric acids wherein the organophosphoric acid alkali metal salts have the structure wherein M is an alkali metal, y l or 2, z l or 2. and y z 3. and R is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl radical containing l to 24 carbon atoms, an aryl radical containing 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and an alkylphenoxy poly(ethyleneoxy)ethyl radical, and (ii) a catalyst used at a level from about 0.01 part to about 5 parts by Weight per 100 parts by weight of rubber, and wherein said catalyst is selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts and amines that have a dissociation constant of below l0.

10. A composition of claim 9 wherein the quaternary ammonium salts have structure cals form with the nitrogen atom a heterocyclic structure containing 3 to 8 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of C, N, O, and, S atoms, at least two of which are C; and X is an anion from an organic or inorganic acid, wherein the acidichydrogen is attached i to a halogen or an oxygen atom.

l l. A composition of claim 10 wherein X is selected from the group consisting of C 1', Br, I, HSOf, H POJ, RCOO, R080 R80 and ROPO H, where R is an alkyl or alkaryl radical containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms.

12. A composition of claim 9 wherein the amine is selected from the group consisting of secondary amines, tertiary amines and guanidines. j

13. A composition of claim 12 wherein the secondar amines and tertiary amines are cyclic methyleneamines or heterocyclic amines containing 3 to 8 atoms in the ring.

14. A composition of claim -1'2 wherein the amine is added as an amine/acid salt where the acid is selected from the group consisting of halogen acids, phosphoric acid, partial phosphoric acid ester, partial sulfuric acid ester, and carboxylic acids.

15. A composition of claim l4wherein the acid I carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of monocarboxylic fatty acids and aromatic acids containing from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms.

l I *H is a 

1. A COMPOSITION OF (1) A RUBBER CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF (A) FROM ABOUT 40 PERCENT TO ABOUT 99.8 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF AN ACRYLATE OF MIXTURES OF ACRYLATES OF THE FORMULA
 2. A composition of claim 1 wherein M is potassium or sodium.
 3. A composition of claim 1 wherein (1) is a rubber consisting essentially of (a) from about 65 percent to about 99.6 percent by weight of an acrylate or mixtures of acrylates wherein R'' is selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals containing 1 to about 10 carbon atoms and alkoxyalkyl radicals containing 2 to about 8 carbon atoms, (b) from about 0.2 percent to about 15 percent by weight of the halogen-containing monomer, (c) from about 0.2 percent to about 10 percent by weight of a carboxyl-containing monomer, and (d) up to about 10 percent by weight of a copolymerizable monomer containing a terminal vinylidene group recited in claim
 1. 4. A composition of claim 3 wherein (a) is selected from the group consisting of ethyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, methoxy ethyl acrylate and ethoxy ethyl acrylate, (b) is selected from the group consisting of vinyl chloroacetate, allyl chloroacetate, 2-chloroethyl acrylate, 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether, vinyl benzyl chloride, 5-chloromethyl-2-norbornene, and 5-chloroacetoxymethyl-2-norbornene, (c) is selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and itaconic acid, and (d) is selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, styrene, acrylonitrile, acrylamide, and diethylene glycol diacrylate.
 5. A composition of claim 4 wherein (a) is ethyl acrylate and (c) is methacrylic acid.
 6. A composition of claim 3 wherein (2) is used at a level from about 1 part to about 5 parts by weight based upon 100 parts by weight of the acrylate rubber, and where the acid is an alkyl or aromatic monocarboxylic acid containing from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms.
 7. A composition of claim 6 wherein the said monocarboxylic acid is an alkyl monocarboxylic acid.
 8. A composition of claim 7 wherein the alkali metal is selected from the group consisting of potassium and sodium.
 9. A COMPOSITION COMPRISING (1) A RUBBER CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF (A) FROM ABOUT 40 PERCENT TO ABOUT 99.8 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF AN ACRYLATE OR MIXTURES OF ACRYLATES HAVING THE FORMULA
 10. A composition of claim 9 wherein the quaternary ammonium salts have structure
 11. A composition of claim 10 wherein X is selected from the group consisting of C1 , Br , I , HSO4 , H2PO4 , RCOO , ROSO3 , RSO3 , and ROPO3H , where R is an alkyl or alkaryl radical containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms.
 12. A composition of claim 9 wherein the amine is selected from the group consisting of secondary amines, tertiary amines and guanidines.
 13. A composition of claim 12 wherein the secondary amines and tertiary amines are cyclic methyleneamines or heterocyclic amines containing 3 to 8 atoms in the ring.
 14. A composition of claim 12 wherein the amine is added as an amine/acid salt where the acid is selected from the group consisting of halogen acids, phosphoric acid, partial phosphoric acid ester, partial sulfuric acid ester, and carboxylic acids.
 15. A composition of claim 14 wherein the acid is a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of monocarboxylic fatty acids and aromatic acids containing from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms. 